title: Microorganism characterization by single particle mass spectrometry.
abstract: In recent years a major effort by several groups has been undertaken to identify bacteria by mass spectrometry at the single cell level. The intent of this review is to highlight the recent progress made in the application of single particle mass spectrometry to the analysis of microorganisms. A large portion of the review highlights improvements in the ionization and mass analysis of bio-aerosols, or particles that contain biologically relevant molecules such as peptides or proteins. While these are not direct applications to bacteria, the results have been central to a progression toward single cell mass spectrometry. Developments in single particle matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) are summarized. Recent applications of aerosol laser desorption/ionization (LDI) to the analysis of single microorganisms are highlighted. Successful applications of off-line and on-the-fly aerosol MALDI to microorganism detection are discussed. Limitations to current approaches and necessary future achievements are also addressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, California State University, Stanislaus, One University Circle, Turlock, CA 95382, USA. srussell@chem.csustan.edu
authors.forename: Scott C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000639:trends*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*